For an instant she stood still, and, slightly trembling, looked at him.

Her anger and the hate she thought she had for him all vanished at once, and melted into a most delicious sentiment of astonishment.

What had he said, what was the word he had just pronounced, that she should be so overcome by it?
She knew that he loved her; yet when he said so, the sound of it in her ear overwhelmed her with an inexplicable joy.

It resounded so deeply through her whole being, that her fears came back and were enlarged.

She never would dare reply to him; it was really more than she could bear; she was oppressed.
He, grown more bold, his heart touched and drawn nearer to hers by their united deeds of charity, repeated: "I love you." And she, fearing the lover, began to run.